Is Disney Trying To Make 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' Woke Now Too?
The Walt Disney Company has made an unending number of mistakes in recent years, most of which are tied to the company's obvious political leanings.
Disney picked a fight with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a fight it continues to lose. The company made a jaw-dropping number of flops, from once-untouchable studios like Pixar and Marvel. Animated movies targeted to children have incorporated progressive political messaging, only to take massive box office losses as a result. Even films that feature diverse casts with stories based on their popular theme park attractions, like the Haunted Mansion movie, were dramatic failures.
A live action remake of Snow White was even delayed an entire year after public reception to leaked set photos was universally negative.
READ: Disney Delays Snow White, Elio During Dismal Year
At times, it has seemed like Disney and CEO Bob Iger have finally learned their lesson. Company filings admitted that its political stances may have impacted its bottom line. And Iger admitted he wanted to tone down the rhetoric around its ideology. Yet here we are, in February 2024, and Disney may be at it again.
According to several reports from various outlets, Disney is considering replacing Johnny Depp in its successful, long running Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with actress Ayo Edebiri.
That sounds like a great idea!
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Actor Johnny Depp, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow and producer Jerry Bruckheimer of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES with Walt Disney's Sean Bailey (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney).
Disney Set To Make One Of Its Worst Mistakes
It's unclear whether the film would be a direct sequel to the last Pirates movie, or a spin-off release. Regardless, Disney has no hope of a successful financial release when its motives for a change are so obvious.
Edebiri wouldn't play Captain Jack Sparrow, a small relief, but the corporate playbook at Disney has been to turn every popular franchise into a female-driven property. Disney tried, desperately, to make Phoebe Waller-Bridge the next Indiana Jones, before Dial of Destiny flopped spectacularly. Star Wars went from Luke Skywalker to Rey Palpatine (Skywalker?).
Pirates was already floundering, but with Depp as Sparrow, there at least could be some glimmer of potential. But as he said in court, "I didn’t quite understand how, after that long relationship, and quite a successful relationship, certainly for Disney, that suddenly I was guilty until proven innocent."
It seems very unlikely Disney's relationship with Ayo Edebiri will be equally as successful. But the company seems determined to find out just how much money it can lose.